Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Rural Route on piano
Written by John Mellencamp
- C major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 2006
- Medium
Learn Rural Route in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – C – D – C
Rural Route sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIICIDIICI- DD · F# · A
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Tiptoe seesaw
A low note, then the higher note tiptoes on every “and”. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 207 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Ticking clock
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Rural Route
What chords are in Rural Route?
The loop is D – C – D – C (II5 – I5 – II5 – I5) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Rural Route in?
C major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Rural Route?
Tiptoe seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rural Route easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.